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An alleged terrorist accused of plotting to derail a New York-to-Toronto train ranted against gay marriage in court Wednesday in his latest crusade against the Criminal Code.

Chiheb Esseghaier, who represents himself on terrorism charges and has campaigned to be judged by the Qu’ran instead of the Criminal Code, spent four minutes railing against gay marriage, saying they are unnatural.

“Homosexual marriages are protected by the Criminal Code because the code doesn’t consider this a crime. Even the animals don’t do this,” said Esseghaier, 30, a Tunisian PhD student living in Montreal. “The donkeys may. The monkeys do not.

“Why do you allow homosexual marriage when animals don’t do homosexual marriages?” asked Esseghaier, adding the Criminal Code is flawed because it was created by “humans.”

Justice John McMahon interrupted the accused’s rant, saying, “Excuse me, we are going to do this my way.”

When Justice McMahon asserted his authourity, saying the accused’s views on the Criminal Code “aren’t relevant today.” The judge urged the accused terrorist to accept the help of a lawyer, instead of representing himself.

Earlier, Esseghaier complained that he was strip-searched, saying a guard “forced me to show him my (genitals).”

The judge told the accused that strip-searches are security measures meant to ensure the safety of inmates.

Esseghaier and co-accused Raed Jaser both appeared in court Wednesday, facing charges linked to an investigation in what the RCMP has alleged was an al-Qaida-inspired plan to derail a passenger train.

Jaser, a North York van driver, and Esseghaier are charged with participating in a terrorist group and conspiring to murder for the benefit of a terrorist group. They also face a charge of interfering with transportation facilities for the benefit of a terrorist group, between Aug. 26 and Sept. 25, 2012.

The two alleged terrorists will be back in court on Feb. 21.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

At the time of the arrests, there was no imminent threat, the RCMP maintained.

Jaser’s lawyer, John Norris, has said his client will vigorously defend all charges against him.